[Villages PL]

By now, everyone has heard the following argument: "You can't believe the so-called food experts because they keep changing their minds about what's good and what's bad for your health." This is an argument that is promoted by the processed food industry to turn people against food science. They have a high percentage of the population hooked on processed foods and they don't want science undoing all their hard work. So this is their way of trying to discredit nutrition science.

A popular radio personality, with a stake in food sales, frequently invokes this argument. He once asked in feigned frustration, "Who knows what's healthy?"

I say the above argument is completely phony, and here's why. There's no area of science that I know of that doesn't have disagreements, and yet, he only raises this issue with food science.

Economics: Look at all the many disagreements between experts. Is he confused by it? No. He firmly believes in free-market economics.

Climatology: Experts disagree all the time. Is he confused? No, he clearly comes down on one side of the global warming argument.

Environmental disagreements among experts are many. Is he confused? No.

Evolution: There have been disagreements among evolutionists. And there are ongoing disagreements between evolutionists and creationists. Is he confused by any of this? No.

Conclusion: No matter how difficult or complicated the science may be, in any field from economics to climatology, he has no problem making up his mind between all the conflicting statements made by experts. He only has a problem with food science because he has a stake in food sales. He can't say that processed foods are healthy, so he seeks to do the next best thing. He does his best to discredit nutrition science.

Note: This popular radio personality really exists; I purposely left out his name. The point I'm making is how the system works to shape public opinion.